Amateur-built Volksplane VP-1 accident near Concordia, Kansas, August 15, 2003
On August 15, 2003 at about 12:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Volksplane VP-1, registered N493, was destroyed in an accident near Concordia, Kansas (Blosser Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the roadway, the ditch and unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2003 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Concordia, Kansas · Blosser Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Volksplane VP-1
- Registration
- N493 · no longer on the register · serial N493
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted a road and a ditch during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that the power loss occurred when he reduced throttle upon reaching his cruising altitude. He stated that he elected to land on a roadway and, due to traffic, turned to land on the other side of the road. The airplane subsequently impacted the road and a ditch. No pre-impact defects were found with respect to the airplane. The student pilot was not authorized to fly the accident airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 654 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 770 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1500CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNK Concordia KS at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from CNK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.